For a Tuesday night, it was an event filled with lots of socialising, talking, laughing and good cheer.

The 'Holiday Tales' themed Now Hear This event was a summertime, under-the-stars, send-you-into-your-holidays-smiling night of storytelling night at the National Film and Sound Archive courtyard.

Six Canberra people told their stories around the theme 'Holiday Tales'.

Listen to Canberraphile this Sunday from 10am on 666 with Melanie Tait to hear all the stories.

What is Now Hear This?

Now Hear This is a storytelling night that began in Canberra in 2011 with 666 ABC Canberra and is now a Radio National project.

In front of an intimate audience, storytellers tell us a story matching the theme of the night.

The story can be funny, sad, embarrassing, uplifting, strange, risque, bawdy, extraordinary or simple - as long as it's a true story from the storyteller's life.

There are a couple of rules for the eight minute story: it's not stand up comedy, it's not a confessional, it's not a raging diatribe and storytellers won't be relying on anything but their memory.

As a storyteller, you're not left on your own. Your story will go through a workshop process with the rest of the storytelling group - by the time the night comes, you're completely 'performance ready'.

If you're not sure if it's for you, get in touch with someone who's told a story before or have a chat with us here at 666 ABC Canberra.

The stories are captured in video, and the audio rebroadcast on 666 ABC Canberra.

To get a feel for the night have a look at our video archive of past events.